Jose Bernardo stands to become bigger name for Texas school children

It’s premature to celebrate, but Cruz S. Chavira is feeling good about the prospect of future Texas school children learning more about Jose Bernardo Maximiliano Gutierrez de Lara – the first president of Mexican Texas.

Early Texa revolutionary

Jose Bernardo

The State Board of Education last week tentatively agreed to elevate Jose Bernardo’s status in future public school textbooks. The board has to take a preliminary vote in March. Final action will come after a public hearing on the new social studies curriculum standards in May.

Chavira, of San Antonio, is president of Star Cab Cooperative Association, Inc. who lobbied board members to give Jose Bernardo his due credit.

“It is a historical moment indeed. It restores my faith that Texas public education is now headed in the right path,” says Chavira.

“There should be no doubt that this great leader embraced all Texicans and genuinely cared about forming a more perfect government for everyone, including – Anglos, Mexicans, and American Natives of that era,” Chavira says. “The thought that students will be introduced to Jose Bernardo and his contributions to liberate Texas is somewhat overwhelming. I want to hear my grandchildren discuss his contributions and maybe ask me if I knew him.”

Chavira considers Jose Bernardo the first real president of the Texas Republic. Bernardo declared independence on April 6, 1813, with a copy of his independence speech showing up in The Weekly Register on July 17, 1813.

Bernardo’s opening salvo:

“We, the people of the province of Texas, calling on the Supreme Judge of the Universe to witness the rectitude of our intentions, declare, that the ties which held us under the domination of Spain and Europe, are forever dissolved; that we possess the right to establish a government for ourselves; that in future all legitimate authority shall emanate from the people to whom alone it rightfully belongs, and that henceforth all allegiance or subjection to any foreign power whatsoever, is entirely renounced.”

Chavira told the board last week that Bernardo merits more mention than scant footnotes and references to “the expedition.”

Bernardo was a revolutionary figure that pushed for independence from European powers. He was appointed Commander of Chief of the rebel Republican Army of the North that fought the Spanish armies in Texas, winning battles at Nacogdoches, Rosillo Creek and Alazan.

During his lifetime, Bernardo was a Spanish subject, a patriot, and governor of Texas and governor of Tamaulipas who contributed extensively to the liberation of Mexico and Texas, Chavira told board members.

So why hasn’t Bernardo been accepted more widely as the real first leader of the Texas republic?

“As in all wars, or revolts, societies try to justify their involvement. It is important to prove their side was right and justified in their participation in such struggles. In due time, history corrects such views and the facts surface to such heights that denial serves nobody. In the case of Jose Bernardo, this has now happened,” Chavira says.

He’s optimistic that Bernardo will gain more recognition.

“This historical correction should open the doors to greater understanding amongst the people of Texas, which I wholly support. We may still have a long road to travel, but a lot of faith has been restored, and this makes the eventual goal attainable,” Chavira says.